Effect Of Endosulfan, An Organochlorine Insecticide On Thyroid Gland Of Rabbit

Abstract

hese studies were carried out to identify the level of the loss carried out by the application of endosulfan as an endocrine disruptor on the thyroid gland of the rabbits living in the agricultural lands and face continuous spray of the insecticides for want of good crop. About fifty animals were used in this study with the mean body weight 1400±75.5 grams. The animals were initially kept in animal house measuring 10 ′×14′ sq. ft. for acclimatization in the captive environment. All the animals were divided into four groups of 12 animals each one group was used as control and remaining three groups were kept in three different cages measuring 3x3x1.5unuts. Three doses of the insecticides were prepared as given to the each group for a period of 15 days. During the experimental period the animals exposed to higher dosage showed the clinical signs of intoxication in both males and females throughout the 15 day experiment, these signs included: Tremor, generalized convulsion, salivation, increased respiratory rate, hyperactivity and reddish nasal discharge in number of animals. Dragging of hind limbs was also observed and these signs persisted in number of cases throughout the experiment. Histological examination of thyroid gland revealed that the damage caused in the group exposed to lowest dose was less as compared to the higher dose. Hence it is concluded that the effect of the insecticide is dose dependant.